Holiday in Poland

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Poland became the first of the central European countries to overthrow communist rule in 1989. It is the most populous state in central Europe. In 1989 it was on the verge of economic collapse, weighed down by massive foreign debt, but it managed to overcome these obstacles successfully. Today, it is one of the fastest growing economies, member of the European Union and NATO. Despite the crisis in Western Europe and North America Poland is doing very well and remains “a green island” among European countries fighting with huge recession, mainly thanks to being still an emerging market.Modern Poland is first of all the bustling cities like: Warsaw, Gdańsk, Wrocław, Kraków or Poznań with new buildings, cafes and restaurants and the ubiquitous energy generated by hard-working people, dynamic changes made by them. This energy and optimism distinguish Poles as a nation and fascinate foreigners the most. The entrepreneurial individuals work hard to make up for lost decades but at the same time enjoy all aspects of life (delicious cuisine, good music, nice holiday spots, etc) and have a great respect for family, religion and tradition as well. What more, Poles remain warm and generous despite the massive upheavals they experienced, something many visitors can attest.

Poland today can be a very interesting holiday destination with its comfortable hotels, relaxing SPAs and recommended restaurants. Check it by yourselves and you will fall in love in it.

And below find a few curiosities about Poland:

“Poland through foreign eyes“ by Georg van der Weyden:It has to be said from the beginning: Whatever you say about Poland, someone else will claim the opposite. And most likely, both opinions will be right. Having said that, portraying modern Poland is a challenging, delicate, difficult, painstaking, intriguing, funny, emotional, frustrating but utterly rewarding task.

It's also a risky task, one that feels like tiptoeing across a minefield. Presenting and trying to explain Poland is such a sensitive mission because views and opinions of the country are as varied as the people expressing them. There is a saying that roughly goes: “Wherever there are two Poles, there are three opinions. “ Some countries can be summed up in an article, but the complex and intriguing Poland demands a whole book, a rather thick one, to do it at least some justice.“Shortcuts to Poland“ by Laura Klos-Sokol

The Polishness Quiz:

How Polish are you? Just a tad? Or even more Polish than the Poles? Take this quiz and discover your rate of Polishness:

1. In the past three months, have you spent over three hours sitting at a table eating and drinking? (3 points for yes; 0 for no)2. Do you like Prince Polo or Ptasie Mleczko? (3 points for yes; 0 for no; -1 if you don't know what either one is)3. Have you ever bought shampoo or toothpaste at a kiosk? (2 points for yes; 0 for no; -2 if you've never bought anything at a kiosk)4. When you are a guest at someone's home for the first time, would you most likely show up with flowers or a gift of some kind? (3 points for yes; -1 for no)5. Do you normally shake hands with (or kiss) everyone rather than wave hello or good-bye to the group? (3 points for yes; 0 for no)6. Have you eaten pickled herring? Smoked eel? Carp? (1 point for each fish; add 1 point for each one you enjoy; -2 if you've never eaten any of them)7. Have you ever had a family member visit for longer than two weeks? (2 points for yes; 0 for no)8. Have you ever slept regularly on a convertible or a pull-out bed? (4 points for yes; add 2 points if you fold it up every day; 0 for no; -1 if there isn't such a bed in your home)9. Does your last name have three syllables or more or at least a 3:1 ratio of consonant to vowel? (1 point for yes; 0 for no)10. When you're at the table with friends, does someone usually give a toast at some point in the evening? (3 points for yes; 0 for no)11. Have you strolled through Łazienki Park on a Sunday afternoon? (3 points for yes; add 3 points if you were dressed nicely; 0 for no; -1 if you don't know where the park is or have never been there) 12. Do you go to church on most holidays? (2 points for yes; 0 for no)13. Do you hold strong views on what bigos should taste like? (2 points for yes; 0 for no; -1 if you've never had it homemade)14. When guests arrive at your home, do you immediately offer them something to drink? (2 points for yes; 0 for no)15. Have you ever entertained twelve guests in an area smaller than 40 square meters? (4 points for yes; add 2 points if it was more than sixteen guests; 0 for no; -2 if you never entertain guests or have always lived in a larger area) 16. Do you know the ingredients of the drink szarlotka? (2 points for yes; 0 for no)17. Have you ever ridden in a mały Fiat? (4 points for yes; 0 for no; -2 if you don't know what one is)18. Have you ever pushed a broken-down mały Fiat down the street? (5 points for yes; add 2 points if you had to leave it at the side of the road; 0 for no)

46 points or more: Congratulations. You're outrageously Polish. Even more Polish than the Poles.

24 to 45 points: You're very Polish. In fact, check your passport.

11 to 23: You're fairly Polish and have great potential. Whatever you're doing, do it some more.

0 to -8: You're negative Polish which means you're fresh off the boat or just very very foreign. But it also might mean you're pathetic. Try to get out more.

Australian backpacker, Ben Groundwater, (source: The Sydney Morning Herald) who put Polish capital, Warsaw on the third place on the list of ten sexiest cities of the world (right after San Francisco and Paris):

The Polish capital isn't exactly romantic, but it does boast something else in ridiculous proportions: extremely attractive people. By some weird fluke of the gene pool, the Poles collected the vast proportion of the hotness. A night out at a club there is enough to have anyone applying for residency.